Ask K.C. Johnson

Can you please tell Adewale Ogunleye to cool it? I like that Carolina is getting all the pub. Let's puff them up once again. Let's tell them how great they are and how much beating the Giants was like beating the '72 Dolphins. Let the sleeping dog lie. Agree? --Jason, Wheeling, Ill.

Disagree. I like how confident the Bears are. They know they have a chance to do something special. They're not being cocky. They're saying they think they're better than Carolina. What's wrong with that? I don't consider what Wallay said to be that cocky. Taping a Super Bowl Shuffle? Now, that's cocky.

Not to say this too loudly for Carolina to hear, but in watching DeShaun Foster, he carries the ball like a loaf of bread! Does Ron Riveria stress stripping the ball? --Marlon Micou, Waterloo, Iowa

If Ron Rivera forgets, Lovie Smith will remind him. From the day Lovie took over as coach, he has asked defensive players to try to strip balls and run back every loose ball on the ground on EVERY PLAY in practice. Even defensive players have laughed at the exercise at times. But it feeds a solid mentality. Especially when backs carry balls like a loaf of bread.

Hey K.C., great stuff! Can you address two things: 1. How did Kyle Orton not get a single Rookie of the Year vote? 2. How did Urlacher not get a single MVP vote? My arguments for each are simple: 1. Orton led the team to 10 victories. Sure, nobody is going to confuse him for Peyton Manning, but for a rookie QB, that's pretty awesome! 2. Urlacher (to me) had a better year than Ray Lewis did when he won league MVP ... plus, as you pointed out, look at the Bears' record without him! My final point would be his performance in big games (see Green Bay and Atlanta--AWESOME). I'd love to get your take. --Sonny Dyon, Medinah, Ill.

I don't get a vote or else Orton would've gotten one. As for Urlacher, I'm only guessing here but I think voters looked at it as he likely would win Defensive Player of the Year so that was enough recognition. I know Ray Lewis won overall MVP, but that's rare. And you can't deny that both Shaun Alexander and Manning had huge years. Also, unlike other sports, the votes aren't broken down between first-, second- and third-place votes. You get to vote for one player only.

Do you think the Bears should or will ask Kyle Orton to play in NFL Europe this year? --Tim Coughlin, Boca Raton, Fla.

Nah. His offseason work with mini-camps and optional team activities (OTAs) will be enough, especially because OTAs have become, in essence, mandatory. He can get more experience with the Bears' offense by working at Halas Hall than going to Europe.

If Ron Rivera is fortunate enough, unfortunately for the Bears, to get a head coaching position, would Mike Singletary be on the Bears' radar for either the coordinator position or some other defensive staff position? --Bob Andersen, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Doubtful. Mike is getting some sniffs for head coaching openings, but I'd look for Lovie Smith to try to hire Rod Marinelli from Tampa Bay or promote linebackers coach Bob Babich from within if Rivera leaves.

I have heard more than once that Marty Booker may be a cap casualty in Miami this off-season. I could see Booker returning to the Bears in a third wide receiver role, giving the Bears some formidable depth. Marty always struck me as a quality guy and a good teammate, someone who would fit in well with the current locker room. From what I remember, Jerry Angelo did not want to trade him in the first place and Marty did not want to go. Do you see a scenario where Booker might re-sign with the Bears? --Aaron Joseph, Chicago

I haven't talked to anybody in the organization about it, but it certainly sounds like a good idea. Everything you mention about the situation is true. The question mark will be how long it takes Mark Bradley to recover from his knee surgery. The organization is high on Bradley. And if how he played before he got hurt holds true, it's with good reason.

Rex Grossman telegraphs every play. When his chinstrap is open, it's a run. When his chinstrap is buttoned, it's a pass. --Rodger Mitchell, Wilmette, Ill.

And when he spins his chinstrap around three times, it's the ol' quick kick.

Will you push the NFL owners to change the instant replay to a format used in the bowl games. That worked so fast it was incredible! --Gary Jenner, Ogden, Utah

Repeat after me: Longer delays mean more commercials. More commercials mean more money.